Introducing our patrons...

nsif is able to fund groundbreaking medical research because of the generous support of its patrons. From the very beginning, nsif patrons from the catering, sport, media and business worlds have lent their skills, time and resources to help build the organisation nsif is today – a charity that has raised approximately £4.2 million towards developing a cure for spinal injury.

Lord Jeffrey Archer

Author and Former Politician

Jeffrey Archer is a best-selling author and former politician. He was Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party from September 1985 until November 1986. Jeffrey Archer was made a Life Peer in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of 1992. As an…

Jason Atherton

Chef

Jason Atherton was the first British chef to complete a stage at Spain’s famous elBulli restaurant in 1998. This invaluable experience laid the foundation for his unique creative style and fuelled his insatiable thirst for culinary knowledge. With seasoned experience,…

Bill Beaumont CBE

Former English Rugby Player

Bill Beaumont is a former captain of the English national rugby team, as well as the British Lions. Bill’s passion did not end with his playing career; he’s a vice chairman of The International Rugby Board and a Director of Rugby…

Heston Blumenthal OBE

Chef

The Fat Duck was awarded 3 Michelin Stars in 2004 and was recently voted Best Restaurant in the World. For more than ten years Heston Blumenthal has been cooking up a storm with his unique approach to the molecular qualities of…

Sir Richard Branson

English Business Magnate

Born in 1950, Sir Richard was educated at Stowe where his entrepreneurial skills came to light when he established a national magazine called Student at the young age of 16. At 17 he started a Student Advisory Centre to help young…

Ieuan Evans

Former Welsh Rugby Player

Ieuan Evans is one of Wales’ all-time great Rugby players. With 33 tries for his country he goes into the record books as Wales’s third highest try scorer. Ieuan’s early performances for Llanelli, aged just 19, gained him a call…

Sir Alex Ferguson CBE

Former Football Manager

Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in British football history, winning almost 40 trophies – including 13 Premier League titles – during his time in charge of Manchester United. He took up the manager role at Old Trafford…

Helen Fospero

TV Presenter and Journalist

Helen has been a journalist for more than 20 years and is one of the UK’s most trusted breakfast anchors. She has worked for the BBC, ITV, Five News and Sky News as well as for newspapers and on radio….

Frank Gardner OBE

Security Correspondent and Journalist

BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner is well known for his extensive reports on security and terrorism from all parts of the Middle East. He is fluent in Arabic, a factor in him becoming the BBC’s first full-time Gulf Correspondent, which…

Retief Goosen

Pro Golfer

The 2001 & 2004 US Open Champion Retief Goosen is one of the best golfers of his generation and is a truly global professional, holding membership on three worldwide Tours (PGA Tour, European Tour and South African Tour). In recognition…

Will Greenwood MBE

Former English Rugby Player

One of England’s greatest ever rugby players Will has enjoyed a fantastic career having been awarded 55 caps and scored 31 tries, the second highest in English rugby history. Will made his Test debut against Australia in November 1997 but…

David Haye

Boxer

David Haye is an English professional boxer from London and former WBA heavyweight champion. He is also the former unified world cruiserweight champion, holding the WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring cruiserweight titles, and the former European cruiserweight champion. David…

Austin Healey

Former English Rugby Player

Austin Healey’s career began when he represented England U21 and A level as well as England Sevens whilst playing for Orrell R.C. He moved to Leicester where he made 250 appearances over 11 seasons playing virtually every position behind the…

Eamonn Holmes

Broadcaster and Journalist

As the anchor of the Sunrise programme on Sky News and his appearances on Sky One, Eamonn Holmes is one of the best known and longest serving breakfast television anchormen in Britain. He launched the newly created breakfast station GMTV…

Martin Johnson CBE

Former English Rugby Player

Martin Johnson is undoubtedly England’s greatest captain – he is a World Cup winning captain, a Grand Slam winning captain, and a twice British & Irish Lions captain. In his glittering career, together with all these trophies, he has picked up 84 caps…

Allan Lamb

Former English Cricket Captain

Allan Lamb is a former English cricketer, playing 201 matches for England (79 tests and 122 One Day Internationals). His average was 36.09 runs in test matches and 39.31 in ODIs. He played his last international series against Pakistan and…

Lord and Lady Leitch

Businessman and Businesswoman

Lord Leitch has extensive experience in chairman and board roles across the financial services industry. He serves as the Chairman of Bupa International Limited, as well as Intrinsic Financial Services Limited. He served as the Chairman and the Chief Executive…

Gary Lineker OBE

Former English Footballer and Broadcaster

During his playing career, Gary Lineker was one of the best-known and widely admired football players in the world. His total of 48 goals for his country places him second on the all-time list behind Bobby Charlton and he was…

David Lloyd

Founder of David Lloyd Leisure

The former Davis Cup captain David Lloyd has become so successful as an entrepreneur that he’s probably better known by younger generations for the sports clubs that carry his name than competing at the highest level at Wimbledon with the…

Claire Lomas MBE

British Campaigner and Fundraiser

Claire Lomas was an extremely talented event rider, who has produced horses and competed at 4* level. Claire had a freak accident while competing at Osberton Horse Trials in May 2007. Since her accident Claire has worked tirelessly to raise…

Michael Patrick Thomas Lynagh, AM

Former Australian Rugby Player

Michael Lynagh was a key man in Australia’s victorious 1991 World Cup campaign. This wasn’t his first World Cup as he also featured in the 1987 tournament. After notching up 911 points he retired from international rugby, playing his last…

James Martin

Chef

James Martin has presented BBC1′s hugely successful weekly show Saturday Kitchen for the last 6 years. His television career began in 1996 with The Big Breakfast and Ready, Steady Cook, and he has rarely been off screen since. As a…

Anton Mosimann OBE DL

Chef

As the only son of Swiss restaurateurs Anton Mosimann’s career was designated almost from birth. His earliest childhood memories are of food and he was greatly influenced by the cooking of his parents; coming home from school to the smell of…

Phil Packer MBE

British Provost Officer

My journey has given a valuable insight into Spinal Injury. At first I found the situation absolutely devastating, however as the months have gone by I have realised how lucky and how fortunate I am. The support I have received…

Lord Powell of Bayswater KCMG OBE

Diplomat, Politician and Businessman

Lord Powell was private secretary and advisor on foreign affairs and defence to British Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major between the years 1983 – 1991. Since 1992 he has been an international businessman serving on the boards of…

Lady Powell of Bayswater

Business Woman and Consultant

Carla Powell is Italian by birth but has spent much of her life in Britain. She studied at the Chelsea College of Art & Design and later at the Vander Keelen Studio in Brussels specialising in faux marble and trompe…

Gordon Ramsay OBE

Chef

Scottish by birth, Gordon was raised in England. At the age of 15 he was signed to play football for Glasgow Rangers but three years later he returned to college to complete a course in hotel management. His success is…

Geoffrey Riddell

Businessman

Geoffrey Riddell started his career with Price Waterhouse in 1978 and four years later moved to AIG, where he held various roles, including country manager for Hong Kong, Belgium and France. While in Hong Kong, he set up the first…

Michel Roux OBE

Chef

Michel Roux arrived in England in 1967 with his brother Albert and together over many years they have successfully transformed the gastronomic scene. The Waterside Inn at Bray has become legendary since opening in 1972 and reaped a constellation of…

Michel Roux Junior

Chef

Michel Jnr. took over running Le Gavroche, the family business in 1991. In May 2010, Michel opened Roux at Parliament Square. He followed this in 2011 with Roux at The Landau at London’s prestigious luxury hotel The Langham. Michel is…

Jennifer Shah

Presenter, Model & Actress

Jennifer started her career with the BBC as a presenter and went on to work in various films and TV. She also worked as a photographic model involved with London Fashion Week. It was during the filming of a series…

Richard Shepherd CBE

Chef

Richard Shepherd’s career began as an apprentice in 1960 at the Mount Pleasant Hotel in Worcestershire. After periods at The Savoy, The Grand Hotel, Cap Ferrat, France, followed by a couple of years at La Reserve de Beaulieu, being the…

Dr Tom Stuttaford OBE

Doctor, Author & Medical Columnist

Dr Thomas Stuttaford is best known as The Times medical columnist. Born in 1931 he was brought up in rural Norfolk where his father and grandfather had been general practitioners. He joined the family practice in 1959 after national service…

Marcus Wareing

Chef

Lancashire-born Marcus Wareing’s early years as a chef were spent in London, in the kitchens of big-hitters The Savoy, Le Gavroche, and La Tante Claire. In 1993, Wareing helped Gordon Ramsay to launch Aubergine, before becoming head chef at his…

Sir Clive Woodward OBE

Former English Rugby Player and Coach

Sir Clive was educated at HMS Conway Naval College and Loughborough University. He graduated with a Sports Science degree and a teaching qualification. He played rugby both for Harlequins and Leicester and was capped by England 21 times as well…